Fluency is the ability to read with speed, accuracy, and proper expression. In order for students to understand what they read, they must learn how to read fluently. In my class we spend a lot of time on fluency. It is one of the most fun centers in my room and is also very beneficial for improving reading skills. There are two best practices for improving students fluency. One is through the use of repeated readings and the other is through consistent practice with sustained silent reading. Students are encouraged to spend twenty minutes at home every night reading their library book. The really nice thing about reading is that to practice all you have to do is pick up a book! No extra physical effort will be needed! To help students with the first best practice for increasing fluency, we use repeated readings. Repeated readings are just that... repeating a reading of a particular short story or poem. In my class we often use poems by acclaimed author Shel Silverstien. Many students recognize his work from school but many adults may recognize his work from the song "A Boy Named Sue" which was written by Silverstien and recorded by Johnny Cash in 1968. Below are videos of the poems that students will be reading in class which demonstrate the proper speed, accuracy, and expression I am looking for in a fluent reader!
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